Label dispenser



web 17 1942 a. A. FLOQD LABEL DISPENS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 51, 1938 March 1'7; W2 c. A. FLOUD 2,276,29'?

LABEL DISPENSER Filed Dec. 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,fiwercia a f Patented Mar. 17, 1942 LABEL DISPENSER Carl A. Flood, Framingham, Mass., assignor to Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 31, 1938, Serial No. 248,782

29 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on one side of an elongate backing strip, particularly labels of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 247,490, filed December 23, 1938.

Objects of this invention are to provide dispensing devices which are simple and economical in construction, which are efficient and reliable in use, which are easy to load, which extend the labels outwardly from the container and away from the backing strip so that they may be readily grasped for use, which may accommodate thermoplastic labels and which present the labels in position to be written upon before the backin strip is peeled therefrom.

According to this invention the dispensing device has an edge over which the backing strip may be drawn to peel it from the foremost label while projecting the label so that it may be grasped easily for application to the surface upon which it is to be mounted, the device comprising a container having means for supporting a feed roll and space to receive the backing strip after it is peeled from the labels. In passing from the feed roll to said space the backing strip preferably travels along a path which extends outside said container and thence back into the container. The aforesaid edge may comprise an integral part of the container or a part, such as a small rod, associated with the container. The device may be provided with a heater for use with thermoplastic labels to soften the adhesive for application to the surfaces upon which the labels are to be permanently mounted. While the heater may be mounted at any suitable location for the purpose, it is preferably located immediately in advance of the aforesaid edge, in which case the backing may be secured to the labels by the thermoplastic adhesive without the necessity of applying additional adhesive over the surface of the thermoplastic coating for temporarily holding the backing.

For the puropse of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a typical label strip suitable for use in the aforesaid embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the second embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. Bis a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a rear view of a label strip suitable for use in the second embodiment.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a container having means for supporting a feed roll 2 and a take-up roll .3. The support for the feed roll comprises a cylindrical block 4 secured to the front wall 5 of the container by means of screws 6. The support for the take-up roll 3 comprises a similar block 8 mounted on the wall 5 by means of screws 9, a shaft l0 extending axially through the block 8, a cup-shaped metallic portion l I fast to the rear end of the shaft 10, a circular handle I2 to rotate the shaft ID, the handle l2 being mounted on the shaft by means of nuts l3, and a felt washer l4 between the parts 8 and II frictionally to hold the drum H against backward rotation. The drum II is provided with prongs I5 extending obliquely in the direction of rotation, the prongs engaging into the cardboard ring l8 upon which the labels and backing strip are wound. The rear wall I of the container slides endwise to permit the rolls 2 and 3 to be slipped over their supports from the rear.

The upper wall I! of the container is provided with an opening l8 through which the composite sheet feeds from the roll 2, and the front wall I9 is provided with an opening 20 through which the backing strip B feeds back into the container and thence under the roll 2| to the take-up roll 3. The opposite edges 22 and 23 of the opening l8 may be bent upwardly and downwardly as indicated in Fig. 2, and a spring 24 may be provided to hold the sheet flat against the top of the container and to serve'as a slight drag on the sheet. At the point where the backing sheet B leaves the labels L the container is provided with a relatively sharp edge 25 over which the backing sheet is sharply drawn as it leaves the label sheet, thereby peeling the backing sheet from the label sheet with less tendency for the label sheet to follow the backing sheet'around the edge. Thus the label sheet is caused to project as shown in Fig. 2. Above the label sheet, preferably in opposition to the edge 25, is a serrated edge 26 over which each label may be torn off after it has been projected to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An electric heater 2'! may be located beneath the composite strip immediately in advance of the point where the sheets are peeled apart, for use with labels of the thermoplastic type.

As the interconnected label and backing sheet approach the edge 25 they tend to arch away from the table I! due to the stiffness of the laminated sheet and to the downward pull on the label sheet as the backing sheet tends to peel off. In the case of a straight edge (in contradistinction to a V-shaped edge such as described hereinafter) this arching, if unrestrained, might permit the labels to follow the backing around the corner, thereby defeating the purpose of the device. In said case, therefore, the arching tendency is restrained either by an obstruction such as 28 or a drag on the strip such as mentioned in the preceding paragraph or, as in Figs. 1 to 3, by both such means. The part 26 imposes a pressure on the labels just prior to their reaching the sharp edge so as to maintain the labels in their own respective planes while the backing is peeled therefrom.

As shown in Fig. 4 the composite strip may comprise a label sheet L having its rear face coated with adhesive A and having label outlines O printed on its front side, this strip being adhesively joined to the backing strip B by the aforesaid adhesive A.

From the foregoing it will be evident that each successive label may be projected into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by turning the handle l2 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. After the label is thus projected it may be torn off over the edge 25. Before the label is thus projected it may be written upon in either of the two positions indicated at P and P in Fig; 1, the top wall ll of the container serving as a hard backing surface for the writing operation.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 comprises a container Bil having a U-shaped partition ill to divide it into two compartments 32 and .153 and a removable cover 3 which telescopes down over the container as shown in Fig. 6. The supply of labels and backing strip is wound on a card board ring 355 which fits over the cylindrical block 36 having an axial rod 3'5 projecting from its opposite ends for pivotally mounting the cylinder in the bottom of the slots 38 in the sides of the compartment 33, the slots extending all the way to the top of the container so that the cylinder may be lifted out of the container when the cover 3 3 is removed.

As shown in Fig. 9 the material for use in the second embodiment comprises a backing strip divided along the middle into two parts B and B which may be peeled separately from the labels L, the labels preferably being completely severed from each other. Thus the labels hold the two parts of the backing strip together and the backing strip holds the labels together until the two parts of the backing strip are peeled away from the labels to free them successively.

Mounted on the under side of the cover 34 are means for separately pulling the two parts B and B of the backing strip to peel the strip from the labels and deliver the two parts of the strip into the compartment 32. Each of these feed means comprises a roller 39 fast to a shaft 40, the two shafts being disposed at right angles and being interconnected by bevel gears 4| and 42. As shown in Figs, 5 and 6 one of the shafts projects outwardly through aligned slots in the container and cover and on the outer end of the projecting shaft is mounted a knurled handle 43 for rotating the shafts. Each shaft 40 is journaled in a sheet metal bracket 44 which is fast to the cover 34 by means of screws 45 and which has a struck-up tongue 46 for stripping the backing from the roller. Adjacent each roller 39 is a small roller 41 journaled in an arm 48 pivotally supported at 49 with a knurled upper end 50 projecting slightly through an opening in the cover 34 for swinging the roller away from the roller 39, against the action of spring 5|, in threading the device.

The cover 34 is provided with an opening 58 through which the label strip may pass from the compartment 33, spring 59 pressing the strip down against the curved lip 60. The cover is also provided with an opening 6! having a V-shaped edge 62 over which the two parts B and B of the backing strip are drawn away from the labels by the rollers 39, the labels L being projected to the left as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5. By employing a V-shaped edge and pulling the two parts of the backing laterally on opposite sides of the path of the labels there is little or no tendency for the labels, even when thin, to follow the backing around the edges.

As the composite sheet passes over the top of the container from opening 58 to opening Bi the labels are uppermost. Consequently the labels may be written upon as in the first embodiment, the cover of the container serving as a hard backing for the writing operation. And as in the first embodiment a heater may be located under the path of the composite sheet immediately in advance of the peeling edge.

From the foregoing it will be evident that each embodiment of the invention is characterized by a container having a space to receive the backing strip after it is peeled from the labels. In the first embodiment the space comprises the forward part of the container occupied by the take-up reel, and in the second embodiment it includes not only the forward part of the container but also the portions at the sides of the U-shaped partition ll i.

It will also be evident that the invention involves peeling the backing from the labels and causing the latter to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as it approaches the edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over the edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device. By causing the backing strip to be bent sharply away from the aforesaid path it may be peeled from the labels while the latter continue movement in their own respective planes.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device having an edge over which the backing strip may be drawn to peel it from the labels, a container having space to receive the backing strip after it is peeled from the labels, and means for drawing the strip over said edge and thence delivering the strip into said space, said edge being sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of th backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be rasped aaiiigis projected from the strip out or the device.

2. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device having an edge over which the backing strip may be drawn to peel it from the labels, means for supporting a supply of labels and backing strip, a container to receive the backing strip after it is peeled from the labels, means for drawing the strip ,trom said means over said edge and thence delivering the strip into said container, said edge being constructed and arranged to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path .of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course .being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device, and

means to restrain saidstrip from arching away from said path as it approaches said edge, thereby to prevent the labels from following the strip around the edge.

3. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device having an edge over which the backing strip may be drawnto peel it from the labels, a container having a compartment for a supply of labels and backing strip and a compartment for the backing strip after it is peeled from the labels, and means for drawing the strip from th first compartment over said edge and thence delivering the strip into the second compartment, said edge being sufllciently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

4. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device having an edge over which the backing strip may be drawn to peel it from the labels, a container having space to receive the backing strip after it is peeled from the labels and also having a removable cover, and means mounted on said cover for drawing the strip over said edge and thence delivering the strip into said space, said edge being sufiiciently sharp to cause the labels to separatefrom thebacking strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

5. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on one side of an elongate backing strip, a device comprising means for supporting feed and take-up rolls of the backing strip, and means for guiding the strip from one rollto the other along a predetermined path, the guiding means including an edge adjacent said path over which the strip is drawn to peel it from the labels successively, said edge being sufiiciently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and 'to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path or the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing oi the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that/the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

6. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on one side of an elongate backing strip, a device comprising means for supporting feed and take-up rolls of the backing strip, means for guiding the strip from one roll to the other along a predetermined path with the labels uppermost and uncovered along a portion of the path, means under said portion to support the strip while writing on the superposed label, said guiding means including an edge beyond said portion over which the strip is drawn to peel it from the labels successively, said edge being constructed and arranged to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successive- 1y along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device, and means to restrain said strip from arching away from said path as it approaches said edge, thereby to prevent the labels from following the strip around the edge.

7. For dispensing labels from a label strip adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising means for supporting feed and takeup rolls of the backing strip, means for guiding the backing strip from one roll to the other along a predetermined path, said means including a stripping edge on one side of the path over which the backing strip is drawn to peel it from the label strip and, adjacent the opposite side of the path near said edge, a severing edge over which labels may be 'torn from the label strip, said stripping edge being sufiiciently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and .to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches the stripping edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

8. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising means for supporting feed and take-up rolls of the backing strip, means for guiding the backing strip from one roll to the other along a predetermined path, said guiding means including an edge adjacent said path over which the backing strip is drawn to .peel it from the labels and a heater mounted on the device adjacent the path of the labels for softening the label adhesive, said edge being sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

9. For dispensing labels which are adhesive- 1y mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising means for supporting feed and take-up rolls of the backing strip, means for guiding the backing strip from one roll to the other along a predetermined path, said guiding means including an edge adjacent said path over which the backing strip is drawn to peel it from the labels and, in advance of said edge, a heater mounted on the device adjacent said path, said edge being sufllciently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

10. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising a container, means for guiding the backing strip along a predetermined path having a portion outside the container and, beyond said portion, an edge over which the backing strip may be drawn back into the container to separate the strip from the labels successively, said edge being sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and ext-ending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

11. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising a container, means for guiding the backing strip along a predetermined path having a portion outside the container, means behind the backing strip in said portion to support the backing strip while writing on the superposed label, said guiding means including an edge over which the strip may be drawn back into the container to separate the strip from the labels successively, said edge being constructed and arranged to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device, and means to restrain said strip from arching away from said path as it approaches said edge, thereby to prevent the labels from following the strip around the-edge.

12. For dispensing labels from a label strip adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising a container, means for guiding the backing strip along a predetermined path having a portion outside the container, the guiding means including a stripping edge on one side of said path at the far end of said portion over which the backing strip may be drawn back into the container and, adjacent the opposite side of the path near said edge, a severing edge over which labels may be torn from the label strip, said stripping edge being sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches the stripping edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

13. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device comprising a container, means for guiding the backing strip along a predetermined path having a portion outside the container, said means including an edge at the far end of said portion over which the backing strip may be drawn back into the container and, in advance of said edge, a heater mounted on the device adjacent said path, said edge being sufiiciently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed andextending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

14. For dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted on a backing strip, a device having an edge over which the backing strip may be drawn to peel it from the labels, and means for drawing the strip over said edge, said edge being sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to separate from the backing strip and to project successively along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as the latter approaches said edge, the projection taking place solely because of the drawing of the backing strip over said edge, said course being unobstructed and extending out of the device so that the foremost label may be grasped as it is projected from the strip out of the device.

15. In the art of labels of the type comprising a series of labels temporarily mounted on a tape with tacky adhesive which peels off the tape, the method of dispensing the labels which comprises advancing the tape and labels along a predetermined path and thence guiding the tape away from said path at an angle sharp enough to peel the tape away from the labels and project them successively from the tape, the projection taking place solely because of guiding the tape away from the labels.

16. For dispensing labels from backing sheet material upon which the label material is mounted with adhesiv which adheres to the label material but peels away from the backing material, a device having a storage space for holding a long strip of the adhesively united backing and label material and a receiving space to receive the backing material as it is peeled from the label material, means for peeling th backing material away from the label material at an angle sharp enough freely and unobstructedly to project the label material from the device without any part of the device contacting the adhesive coating of the label material, and means for guiding the backing material into said receiving space as it is peeled from the label material.

17. For dispensing labels from a backing strip longitudinally divided into two ribbons upon which the label material is mounted with adhesive which adheres to the label material but peels away from the backing material, a device which the label material is mounted with tin sive which adheres to the label material but,peels away from the backing material, a device having a storage space for holding a long strip of the adhesively united label and backing ma erial and a receiving space to receive the backing ribbons as they are peeled from the label material,

means for separately peeling said ribbons away from the material with the line of separation between one ribbon and the label material out of alignment with the line of separation between the other ribbon and the label material, and means for guiding the backing ribbons into said receiving space as they are peeled from the label material.

19. The method of removing labels irom a backing strip to which the labels are adhesively fastened which comprises drawing the backing strip across a relatively sharp edge thus causing the backing to be bent sharply and peeled from the labels while the labels continue movement in their own respective planes.

20. The method of removing labels from a backing strip to which the labels are adhesively fastened which comprises drawing the backing across a relatively sharp edge thus causing the backing to be bent sharply and peeled from the labels and imposing pressure on the labels just prior to their reaching the sharp edge so as to maintain the labels in their own respective planes while the backing is being peeled therefrom.

21. In dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted in a row on a backing strip divided longitudinally into two ribbons, the method of dispensing the labels which comprises separately peeling the two ribbons from the labels successively with the lines of cleavage between the labels and the two'ribbons respectively out of alignment with each other, thereby to facilitate separation of the labels from the ribbons.

22. In dispensing labels which are adhesively mounted in a row on a backing strip divided longitudinally into two ribbons, the method of dispensing the labels which comprises separately peeling the two ribbons from the labels successively with the lines of cleavage between the labels and the two ribbons respectively intersecting each other at an angle substantially at the junction between the two ribbons, thereby to facilitate separation of the labels from the ribbons.

23. For dispensing sheet material from a backing strip longitudinallydivided into two ribbons upon which the sheet material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a dispensing device comprising means for holding a long strip of the adhesively united sheet and backing material and means for separately peeling one of said ribbons away from the sheet material independently of the other ribbon along a line extending transversely of the strip and advancing the sheet material along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as it approaches said line, said course being clear of any contacting surface along the uncovered portions of the adhesive side of the sheet material so that the uncovered adhesive can not contact with the device as the sheet material advances beyond said line along. said course to a position where it may be grasped.

24. Foxy dispensing sheet material from a backing strip longitudinally divided into two ribbons upon which the sheet material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a dispensing device having a storage space for holding a long strip of the adhesively united sheet and backing material and a receiving space to receive the backing ribbons as they are peeled from the sheet material, and means for separately peeling one 01 said ribbons away from the sheet material independently of the other ribbon along a line extending transversely of the strip and advancing the sheet material along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip as it approaches said line, said course being clear of any contacting surface along the uncovered portions of the adhesive side of the sheet material so that the uncovered adhesive can not contact with the device as the sheet material advances beyond said line along said course to a position where it may be grasped.

25. For dispensing sheet material from a backing strip longitudinally divided into two ribbons upon which the sheet material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a dispensing device having edges disposed at an angle to each other, means for supporting a roll of the adhesively united sheet and backing material and means for feeding said ribbons from the roll over said edges respectively and thence back into the device, thereby to project the sheet material from the backing material along a course extending outside the device and forming a continuation of the path of the strip as it approaches said edges, said course being clear of any contacting surface along the uncovered portions of the adhesive side of the sheet material so that the uncovered adhesive can not contact with the device as the sheet material advances beyond said edges along said course to a position where it may be grasped.

26. For dispensing sheet material from a backing strip longitudinally divided into two ribbons upon which the sheet material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a dispensing device having edges disposed at an angle to each other, means for supporting a roll of the adhesively united sheet and backing material, and a pair of feed rollers for feeding said ribbons from the roll over said edges respectively and thence back into the device, thereby to project the sheet material from the backing material along a course extending outside the device and forming a continuation of the path of the strip as it approaches said edges, said course being clear of any contacting surface along the uncovered portions of the adhesive side of the sheet material so that the uncovered adhesive can not contact with the device as the sheet material advances beyond said edges along said course to a position where it may be grasped.

27. For dispensing labels from a backing strip longitudinally divided into two ribbons upon which the label material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a device having edges meeting at an angle, means for supporting a roll of the adhesively united label and backing material, a pair of feed rollers having their axes meeting at an angle for feeding said ribbons from the roll over said edges respectively and thence back into the device, and means kinematically interconnecting the two rollers for conjoint rotation.

28. For dispensing sheet material from a backing strip longitudinally divided into two ribbons upon which the sheet material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a dispensing device comprising means for holding a long strip of the adhesively united sheet and label material and means for separately peeling said ribbons away from the sheet material independently or" each other and advancing the sheet material along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip, said course being clear of any contacting surface along the uncovered portions of the adhesive side of the sheet material so that the uncovered adhesive can not contact with the device as the sheet material advances along said course to a position where it may be grasped.

29. For dispensing sheet material from a backing strip longitudinally divided into ribbons upon which the sheet material is mounted with peelable adhesive, a dispensing device having a storage space for holding a long strip of the adhesively united sheet and backing material and a receiving space to receive the backing ribbons as they are peeled from the sheet material, and means for separately peeling said ribbons away from the sheet material independently of each other and advancing the sheet material along a course forming a continuation of the path of the strip, said course being clear of any contacting surface along the uncovered portions of the adhesive side of the sheet material so that the uncovered adhesive can not contact with the device as the sheet material advances along said course to a position Where it may be grasped.

CARL A. FLOOD. 

